Instrument Rail

ABSTRACT

A rail for positioning at least one instrument on board a vessel, the rail having a longitudinal axis extending in the main transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the rail being arranged in connection with a wheel pedestal in the vessel and the rail being arranged for releasably fixing the instrument.

The invention relates to a rail and a method for positioning one or more instruments in a practical place for a helmsman on board a vessel. More particularly, the invention relates to a rail arranged in connection with a wheel pedestal, particularly in a sailing boat, the rail extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, and the rail being arranged for releasably fixing one or more instruments.

Sailing boats of lengths between approximately 30 and approximately 40 feet are normally equipped with a wheel for the boat to be steered via the boat's rudder. In smooth sea it is comfortable for a helmsman to operate the wheel by standing aft of the wheel, approximately on the centre line of the sailing boat. During sailing, especially when the wind is strong or the sea is turbulent, it is more comfortable for the helmsman to sit on either the leeward side or the windward side of the wheel and operate the wheel by holding one side of the wheel.

Smaller sailing boats are steered by means of a tiller. Larger sailing boats are normally equipped with two wheels as the width of the boat will make the diameter of the wheel disproportionately big to enable operation of the wheel by a helmsman sitting on either the leeward side or the windward side of the wheel.

The wheel is attached to a wheel pedestal. The wheel pedestal has conventionally been equipped with a compass. The wheel pedestal may further be surrounded by a guard rail, usually in the form of an elongated, U-shaped pipe which is secured to the deck on the starboard side and port side of the wheel pedestal. The guard rail serves both to increase the safety for the crew on board in bad weather and to protect the wheel pedestal.

In recent years various types of electronic means have become available to the leisure boat market. This is because the equipment has become less expensive, the instruments have become smaller and the instruments are formed in such a way that they protect the electronics against the corrosive marine environment. Examples of this are electronic charts in combination with a GPS for manoeuvring and navigation, radar screens, echo sounders and sonars, and display of motor operation data. There has also been a development from one instrument per function to one instrument being able to display different types of information. It is common for such instruments to be provided with at least one display for visual presentation of the information.

In more recent boats, in particular sailing boats, it has become normal to replace the conventional wheel pedestal with a substantially flat instrument panel, in which the instruments are placed as in a dashboard right ahead of the wheel. It is also known to mount the instruments in instrument housings fixed to the guard rail as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,951.

Many of today's boats have an autopilot installed. In bad weather and during long sailings in open waters, it can be cold standing at the steering position in the cockpit. It is then natural to use the autopilot so that the helmsman and the rest of the crew may take the shelter of the so-called spray hood which is mounted ahead in the cockpit near the companionway. This makes it necessary to place an extra set of instruments in the bulkhead near the companionway in order for them to be read and possibly operated.

It is desirable that at least the instrument or instruments displaying information of importance to navigation should be readable to and operable by the helmsman when he is operating the wheel, sitting on the leeward or windward side of the wheel. Reading from the leeward or windward side is difficult when the instrument or instruments is/are placed in an instrument panel or fixedly positioned in the guard rail of the wheel pedestal. It has been attempted to remedy this by a pivotable instrument attachment in the guard rail, for example. The instrument may thus be pivoted to the desired side. However, this has the drawback of there still being a relatively large distance from the helmsman to the display of the instrument, which makes reading difficult. Further, the distance is too big to allow operation of the instrument without the helmsman getting up. Such operation may be, for example, to zoom in or out on electronic charts.

Another drawback of an instrument or instruments placed right ahead of the wheel in a wheel pedestal or an instrument panel is that operation takes place by putting one's hand through the wheel. The spokes of the wheel may thus get in the way. Yet another drawback is that instruments placed right ahead of the wheel are not accessible when the helmsman wishes to stay more sheltered ahead in the cockpit. This necessitates a double set of the instrument or some of the instruments.

Attempts have been made to remedy some of these drawbacks by placing the instrument or instruments on one or more movable arms. The arms are then attached to the wheel pedestal or to the instrument panel, extending via one or more movable joints to the desired side. Further, the instrument is pivotably attached to the end of an arm, so that it gets sufficiently close to the helmsman for reading and operation. This has the drawback of arms and joints being difficult to fix or lock in a vessel that is rolling and such an articulated arm being easy to bump into or grab onto in heavy sea. This will easily bring the instrument out of position and could also damage the arm.

Thus, there is a need for an instrument support which brings the instrument or instruments into a position in which the instrument or instruments can be operated without putting one's arm through the wheel, which brings the instrument or instruments near to a helmsman on an optional side of the boat and which brings the instrument or instruments into a position facing forward, making it possible for them to be read by a helmsman who is sheltered near the companionway, so that the helmsman may watch important information from, for example, the radar, echo sounder, AIS (Automatic Identification System) and chart plotter to be able to conduct a safe sailing.

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

In the specification and the claims that follow, reference is made to a wheel pedestal. A person skilled in the art will know that the invention may also be used in connection with instrument panels and manoeuvring consoles of different kinds and designs. Thus, the invention is not restricted to use in connection with wheel pedestals.

In the specification and the claims that follow, reference is made to a helmsman. By a helmsman is meant the person steering the boat, but reading and operating the instrument is not restricted to a helmsman, as any person on board the vessel may read or operate the instrument if practical.

The object is achieved through features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a rail for positioning at least one instrument on board a vessel, characterized by the rail having a longitudinal axis extending mainly in a port-starboard direction, by the rail being arranged in connection with a wheel pedestal or a manoeuvring console in the vessel and by the rail being arranged for releasably fixing the instrument by means of an attachment element.

The rail may be attached to the wheel pedestal or manoeuvring console by means of coupling means. This has the advantage of the rail bringing the instrument or instruments into a suitable distance for operation by a helmsman. The person skilled in the art will know what coupling means are suitable from the design of the rail and the material from which the rail is made, and the design of the wheel pedestal and the material from which the wheel pedestal is made, and what strength is required for the coupling to be stable and durable.

The rail may be extendable in at least one portion, for adjustment to a guard rail. This has the advantage of enabling attachment of the rail to the guard rail of the wheel pedestal. The guard rails are manufactured in different sizes like different widths and different pipe dimensions. By being extendable, the same rail may be adapted to new guard rails of different shapes, and the rail may be retrofitted on existing guard rails.

The rail may be extendable, in at least one portion, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail. This has the advantage of enabling adjustment of the rail to different wheel pedestals, manoeuvring consoles and instrument panels.

The instrument may be fixed to the rail by means of an attachment element. The attachment element may be provided with an attachment plate carrying, in a known manner, a fixed, pivotable or releasable mounting arm or mounting bail. In an alternative embodiment, the instrument is fixedly or releasably attached directly to the attachment plate, and in a further embodiment, the instrument is fixedly or releasably attached via a rotatable joint to the attachment plate. The attachment plate may be fixedly arranged on the attachment element. In an alternative embodiment the attachment plate may be rotatable relative to the attachment element.

The rail may be provided with at least one attachment element. In an alternative embodiment, the rail may be provided with several attachment elements. This has the advantage of the instrument or instruments being movable between the attachment elements to get into a position practical for a helmsman.

The attachment element may be movably arranged along the longitudinal axis of the rail. This has the advantage of enabling the instrument or instruments to be brought into a practical position for a helmsman, without the instrument being lifted off the attachment element.

In at least one position of use, the rail may have an extent in the longitudinal direction corresponding in the main to a chord length of a circular wheel. This has the advantage of the rail not projecting further sideways than the wheel. Thereby, the rail will not get in the way of persons who will move about the cockpit of the vessel. In one embodiment, the rail may have rounded, U-shaped, projecting ends. This has the additional advantage of the rail also functioning as an extra grab rail, making it easier to move about the cockpit when the vessel is subjected to turbulent sea. A further advantage is that the instrument or instruments may be brought to a position outside the circumference of the wheel, so that operation may be performed without putting one's hand through the wheel.

The rail may be provided with at least one means for counteracting the turning of the attachment element around the longitudinal axis of the rail, taken from the group of a non-round rail profile, a slot, an edge, a guide rail. This has the advantage of the instrument or instruments attached to the attachment element remaining stably in place, and the movable attachment element being movable only along the longitudinal direction of the rail.

The attachment element may be provided with a locking device arranged to lock the attachment element to the rail. This has the advantage of the instrument or instruments attached to the attachment element remaining stably in place. The attachment element can be locked to the rail, in a manner known per se, by for example a threaded set screw, a spring-loaded locking pin or a clamp attachment or other known attachment device operated with one's fingers or by means of a tool.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of facilitating the use of at least one instrument in a vessel, in which the instrument is releasably fixed by means of an attachment element on a rail connected to the wheel pedestal or manoeuvring console, the rail having a longitudinal axis extending substantially in a port-starboard direction.

The instrument can be lockably pivoted in a mounting bail, and the mounting bail can be pivoted around at least one lockable joint, in order to be operated by a helmsman positioned in the main on the port or starboard side of the wheel of the vessel. This has the advantage of the instrument or instruments being brought into a practical position on the port or starboard side and the display or instrument having a practical angle relative to the helmsman in order for him to read and operate the instrument or instruments. A further advantage is that the instrument or instruments can be pivoted so that they can be read and operated by a helmsman who is sheltered ahead in the cockpit.

In what follows is described an example of a preferred embodiment which is visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the invention together with a wheel pedestal viewed from the wheel side with an instrument on the port side, the instrument being in a position of use for a helmsman positioned aft of the wheel;

FIG. 2 shows the invention on a smaller scale, viewed from the starboard side with an instrument on the port side, the instrument being in a position of use for a helmsman positioned on the port side of the wheel;

FIG. 3 shows the invention on the same scale and with the instrument in the same position as in FIG. 2, viewed from above;

FIG. 4 shows, on a larger scale, one embodiment of the attachment element of the invention with a ball bearing, viewed from the side;

FIG. 5 shows, on the same scale as FIG. 4, viewed from below, an embodiment of the attachment element which is provided with a locking device in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows, on the same scale as FIG. 4, viewed from the side, the attachment element formed as a block with a sliding mechanism and provided with a locking device; and

FIG. 7 shows, on a slightly smaller scale than FIG. 6, one embodiment of the attachment element of the invention having a set screw.

In the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a rail which has a longitudinal axis 11 extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction of a vessel not shown. The rail 1 is fixed to a wheel pedestal 2. The wheel pedestal 2 is provided with a circular wheel 22 and a guard is rail 24. The rail 1 is provided with an attachment element 12. The attachment element 12 is provided with an attachment plate 14 for an instrument 3. The instrument 3 is pivotable around a horizontal axis by being attached to a mounting bail 32 by means of two attachment screws 34. The mounting bail 32 is pivotably connected to the attachment plate 14 via two pivotable joints 36 and 37 and a mounting arm 38.

The instrument 3 has an operating side 30 of a type known per se, provided with a display for displaying, for example, navigational data like charts and the vessel position and direction, radar image, sonar, motor data, fuel data and other information according to the type of display and the type of data sources. The operating side 30 is further provided with operating means such as buttons, a pressure-sensitive screen and switches for selecting the function of the instrument 3. The instrument 3 has a back 31 provided with sockets 39 for the connection of cables (not shown) connecting the instrument 3 to a data source not shown. The person skilled in the art will know that the instrument 3 may also be provided with wireless communication to the data source not shown.

The rail 1 is fixed to the guard rail 24 by couplings 18. To facilitate the connection of the rail 1 to the guard rail 24, which may come in different widths and dimensions, the rail 1 is provided with telescopic connections 16 in at least one portion of the rail 1.

The rail 1 is provided with a guide rail 19. The guide rail 19 prevents the attachment element 12 from turning around the longitudinal axis 11 of the rail 1.

FIG. 4 shows in detail one embodiment of the attachment element 12 as it is shown also in the FIGS. 1-3. The attachment element 12 is provided with a recess 130 which is complementary to a portion of the rail 1. The attachment element 12 is provided with an attachment plate 14 connected via the joint 37 and the mounting arm 38 to the instrument 3, as sown in the FIGS. 1-3. The attachment element 12 is supported on the guide rail 19 via a ball bearing 132, for the attachment element 12 to be movable along the longitudinal axis 11 of the rail 1 with little friction. The profile 134 of the guide rail 19 and inner profile 136 of the ball bearing 132 are complementary and, in a known manner, formed in such a way that the attachment element 12 cannot turn around the longitudinal axis 11 of the rail 1. The ball bearing 132 is provided with balls 133 following a groove 133 a in the guide rail 19.

FIG. 5 shows the attachment element 12 provided with a locking device 4. The locking device 4 locks the attachment element 12 to the rail 1 in the desired position. A handle 42 is pivotably supported in a lock housing 43. At one end of the handle 42, the handle 42 is pivotably connected via a pivot 48 to a spring-loaded locking pin 41 positioned in a through bore 49 in the lock housing 43. A spring 44 is held in place in the bore 49 by means of a retaining ring 45. The spring 44 is, by one end, in contact with a shoulder 46 in the locking pin 41 and, by its other end, in contact with the retaining ring 45. When releasing the locking device 4, the handle 42 is pressed, at its free end, towards the attachment element 12. This has the effect of the locking pin 41 being lifted clear of the guide rail 19 and the spring 44 being tensioned at the same time, and the attachment element 12 can be moved along the rail 1 and guide rail 19. As the handle 42 is released, the spring 44 will press the locking pin 41 against the guide rail 19 and the attachment element 12 is locked in its position. The locking device 4 can be operated with gloved hands.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment element 12. The attachment element 12 consists of a split block 120 consisting of a first block half 122 and a second block half 124. The first block half 122 and second block half 124 are provided with respective recesses 123 and 125 complementarily adapted to the profiles of the rail 1 and guide rail 19. The first block half 122 and second block half 124 of the block 120 are held together by screws (not shown). The attachment element 12 is locked to the rail 1 in the desired position by the locking device 4. The locking device 4, as shown in FIG. 6, works and is operated in the same way as the locking device 4 which is shown in FIG. 5. The first block half 122 is provided with the attachment plate 14. The block 120 may be made of a material which has little friction against the rail 1 and guide rail 19. Alternatively, the recesses 123 and 125 may be provided with such a low-friction material.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment element 12 in the form of a block 120. The attachment element 12 consists of a split block 120 consisting of a first block half 122 and a second block half 124. The first block half 122 and second block half 124 are provided with respective recesses 123 and 125 which are complementarily adapted to the profiles of the rail 1 and guide rail 19. The block 120 is held together by screws 126. The attachment element 12 is locked to the rail 1 in the desired position by a locking device in the form of a set screw 128. The first block half 122 is provided with the attachment plate 14. 

1. A rail (1) for positioning at least one instrument (3) on board a vessel, said rail comprising: a longitudinal axis (11) extending substantially in a port-starboard direction; the rail (1) is arranged in connection with a wheel pedestal (2) or a maneuvering console in the vessel; and the rail (1) is arranged for releasably fixing the at least one instrument (3) by means of an attachment element (12).
 2. The rail (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rail (1) is attached to the wheel pedestal (2) or maneuvering console by means of coupling means (18).
 3. The rail (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one portion (16) of the rail (1) is extendable for adjustment to a guard rail (24).
 4. The rail (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one portion (16) of the rail (1) is adjustable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (11) of the rail (1).
 5. The rail (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rail (1) is provided with at least one attachment element (12).
 6. The rail (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment element (12) is movably arranged along the longitudinal axis (11) of the rail (1).
 7. The rail (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rail (1) is provided with at least one means for counteracting turning of the attachment element (12) around the longitudinal axis (11), the at least one means for counteracting being taken from the group consisting of: a non-round rail profile, a slot, an edge, and a guide rail (19).
 8. The rail (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment element (12) is provided with a locking device (4) arranged to lock the attachment element (12) to the rail (1).
 9. A method of facilitating the use of at least one instrument (3) in a vessel, the method comprising the steps of: releasably fixing the at least one instrument (3) by means of an attachment element (12) on a rail (1) in connection with a wheel pedestal (2) or maneuvering console of the vessel, the rail (1) having a longitudinal axis (11) extending substantially in a port-starboard direction.
 10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one instrument (3) is lockably pivoted in a mounting bail (32) and the mounting bail (32) is pivoted around at least one lockable joint (36, 37), in order to be operable by a helmsman positioned in the main on a port or starboard side of the wheel (22) of the vessel. 